Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1887-09-09

ger who looked at Dan Chambers and
called him father-a boy of ten, with
laughing blue eyes and curling golden
hair, as prettYa child as l ever saw. This
was the iiEsf animation the boys of Wood
lands uGiH ever had that Chambers was
married IIe expIained Immediately that
his boy hal besh living with a sister,
aIa than bis vile had been dead some
years. Father and son were delighted to
meet. 6IIfI from that moment the old-time
ioIIiEf rGlufned to Chambers. Once,
few days later, saw the boy, Arthur, in
converse with Lubber Dick. Dan saw it
too, and was very angry.
= The saw room was directly over the
great water Wheel in one corner of the
mill. From the single window of the
room the hill was to be seen not twenty
feet distant, a narrow road winding
about its base. From the window it was
sheer descent of twenty feet to logs,
water and stones below. just at dusk
one summer evening Dan Chambers en-
tered the mill, and looking into the saw
room, discovered Lubber Dick on long
bench fast asleep. Instantly Dan saw an
opportunity for revenge For somereason
Lubber Dick had won the confidence of
his employer, and now occupied the berth
of night watchman. His tour did not
come on till midnight, however.
"I'li fix him." thought Chambers, and
going out cautiously he locked the door
and put the key in his pocket. He
meant to report the man as neglecting his
duty, and if possible procure his dis
charge, since he knew it would be
impossible for Dick to escape without the
key. One of the men induced Chambers
to visit lake three miles away for jack
fishing, and, strange as it may appear, he
forgot the man locked in the saw-room
until reminded of it most forci6ly.
Returning about midnight, light in
the heavens suddenly attracted the no.
tice of the two fishermen.
''It's fire." said Chambcrs's COM
panion.
GA bad time for fire in the woods, "
avowed Chambers. "An Indian or a
fool set it."
"Its worse'n rire in the woods" re-
turned the man, as he glanced anxiously
at the crimsoning sky.
"Worsem
"Aye! the mill is on fire."
"The millm
Stunned at the thought, Dan Cham
bers reeled in his tracks, dumb with an
awful horror for the moment. Swift
came the memory of the man locked in
the saw-room, and with a hoarse CRY
Chambers broke into a run.
! ,,,ill ,ros ;pIoo1 IN Aopooo
Even as Dan Chambers burst into the
clearing the first cry of fire rang out on
the evening air. He was one of the frs
on the ground. Too late The splendiC
factory was doomed. White faces, out
lined against black background, by the
magnificent blaze, were seen here anC
there. Perhaps Lubber Dick had es
capped somehow. This was the though
that came to the brain of Chambers
Vain hope!
With a club the imprisoned maj
dashed out the sash, then a great or
vent up from the throat of the horrifet
Dan Chambers. Did his eyes deceiv
him2 Beside the solemn face of Lubbe
Dick was another-the face of blue
eyed boy. There could be no mistakin,
that face-his mothers face-and Da
, Chambers groaned and covered his fac
to shut out the sight.
"This wayw
A voice, hoarse with intense feeling
rose above the fury of the roaring flame
and reached the ears of Chambers.
I" We were locked in by mistake. &c
that long board and push it over. B
be quick or your boy will perish!"
On this side the flames had not come
but the main portion of the mill ws
, burning-there was no escaping by tn
, door now for fiery key held the plac
f against life and hope.
Willing hands moved quickly.
A single board lay on the track nes
. the edge of the bank next the mill. Th
e was lifted, and in spite of that awfl
heat, one end was showed to the ope
e window. Then Lubber Dick drew h
/ stout form through the window, an
stood on jutting timber below. "Goo
v heavens the board will never sustai
e his weight The coward" But Il
e sombre man was even now misunde
y stood.
{ With scorched face and blistered hanc
he drew the boy through the window
and placed him on the board.
t "Steady now, stea ~"
Clinging with one hand, and leanir
a far out, Lubber Dick placed his bros
f shoulder under the board, holding
d solid. A wild shout went up as the be
s tottered across the abyss, and san
t scorched and fainting, in his father
# arms. When they looked again, Lubb
Dick had disappeared. His streng
had forsaken him-he had gone into Il
k abyss on the logs and stones below
shattered human form lay at the feet
d Dan Chambers. A low gasping a
IS nounced the passing of human sor
e Human9 All! he was scarcely consi
# cred so short time since. But now Da
n iel Chambers knelt and parted the hs
from the bistered brow, while to his e
came wordsof strange import.
1T II forgive you, Daniel. l W
,e always the black sheep, the fool of t
family. Only lubber she said al
laughed in my face. You won her. S
died and left that boy Do you knc
d he and | were the best of frends2
,- could talk with him for hours--he undt
stood. He was lying asleep under t
" bench when the fire came. Some o
le locked us in. but-but it doesn't matt
d now. Il"
er Gasping, the faint life went out, a
a Dan Chambers came to his feet a
10 clasped to his heart the boy for who
Iubber Dick had laid down his life.
id "Papa it was Uncle Dick"
ID "Yes, and never recognized him un
IN this moment"
n Dan Chambers turned away, leadi
1e his boy by the hand. saw it all, a
he heard a broken hearted mans contest